Vegan Chocolate Covered Strawberries

If you’re craving a sweet treat, whip up a batch of vegan chocolate covered strawberries. They’re delicious and attractive, making them an ideal snack or Valentine’s Day gift. It doesn’t hurt that they’re inexpensive to make, too. Compared to the gourmet kind, this homemade dessert will cost you less than 10 bucks.

Besides, who can say no to chocolate and fruit? Satisfy your sweet tooth with this easy vegan dessert.

To make vegan chocolate covered strawberries, you’ll need three simple ingredients: fresh strawberries, vegan chocolate, and oil of your choice.

The oil is completely optional. It’s useful for making the melted chooclate smooth and thin, but it’s possible to make this recipe without it.

For this recipe, we used chocolate chunks by the brand Enjoy Life. They’re free of dairy, gluten, and soy.

And in case you’re wondering, yes, you can definitely melt vegan chocolate. You can see from the photos how smooth and velvety it melts, even without having dairy. I can be a little thick, but the oil will help with that, if you decide to use it.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, fill a small pot with water until it’s about 1/3 full. Put the pot on the stovetop.

Place the chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Put the bowl on top of the pot, making sure the bottom doesn’t touch the water. The bowl should be big enough to sit comfortably on the pot.

Bring the water to a gentle boil. Heat the chocolate until melted, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir the chocolate frequently to make sure it melts evenly. Mix in the oil, if using.

Once the chocolate is completely melted, it’s time to dip the strawberries.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Dip each strawberry into the chocolate, then place on the sheet.

If the chocolate in the bowl begins to set while you work, simply reheat it over the pot.

Place the strawberries in the refrigerator until the chocolate sets. If you’re in a rush, you can pop them in the freezer.

Optional: To add an extra chocolate drizzle, chill the strawberries until the chocolate is slightly set. Meanwhile, remelt the remaining chocolate (if needed) and a teaspoon or two of oil. This will make the chocolate thin enough to drizzle.

With a small spoon, like a 1/4 teaspoon, drizzle the melted chocolate on top of the strawberries. You can also use a plastic squeeze bottle, if you have one. Return to the refrigerator until the chocolate hardens.

Like traditional chocolate covered strawberries, you can add toppings to this dessert. Vegan-friendly options include:

• shredded coconut
• crushed nuts
• edible glitter
• vegan sprinkles
• mini vegan chocolate chips
• graham cracker crumbs
• melted white chocolate (drizzled)
• crushed candy canes

Simply sprinkle the toppings on the strawberries before the chocolate sets.

This recipe can be adapted for any type of fruit, like bananas or orange slices.

What goes with chocolate covered strawberries?

Chocolate covered strawberries are a relatively healthy and light dessert that can follow almost any meal. But you might wonder what foods or drinks pair well with them. Here are a couple ideas:

Dessert pairing: your best bet here is ice cream, of course! There are lots of amazing dairy-free ice cream brands, but you can also make your own vegan ice cream without a machine. You can also try topping with our coconut milk whipped cream.

Wine pairing: the primary flavor you’re pairing with here is chocolate, and the Enjoy Life chocolate we used for this recipe is a semi-sweet with 69% cacao—basically a dark chocolate. The bitterness of dark chocolate pairs well with big red wines on the sweeter side, like a Zinfandel or even a Port.

How long can chocolate covered strawberries sit out?

Chocolate covered strawberries are best eaten fresh, but if you don’t finish them in one evening, you certainly don’t want all that deliciousness to go to waste! Here’s how long they’ll keep:

Room temperature: they’ll keep for the better part of a day, and the strawberries will have the best flavor at room temperature. It’s a good idea to cover them loosely; as with many fruits, they’ll ripen too quickly in an air tight container. And keep them out of the sun.

Refrigerator: if you have room, the easiest way to store them in the fridge is on the same lined baking sheet you used when you dipped them. They’ll keep for a day or two like this, but will spoil quickly beyond that.

Freezer: not a good idea. The chocolate coating won’t hold up well as the strawberries begin to thaw.